Special event marks Leeds eco centre’s 200,000th visitor

If you go down in the woods today''Thousands of children and adults from Leeds have already benefited from spending time outdoors at Skelton Grange Environment Centre, thanks to funding from the Big Lottery and National Grid.

Jonathan Brown

A popular eco centre in south Leeds is celebrating welcoming its 200,000th visitor by hosting a special open day.

Skelton Grange Environment Centre, which was founded in 1992 by The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) charity, will mark the milestone by inviting Yorkshire residents to experience the site as part of TCV’s Big Green Weekend on Saturday October 3.

Visitors will be able to enjoy nature up close through a range of family-friendly activities including wood turning, pond dipping, bushcraft workshops, campfire cooking and spoon carving.

Ralph Walker, administrator at Skelton Grange, said: “We’d like to take this opportunity to thank our amazing team of volunteers for all the hard work they have put into the project.

“They really are the reason this centre has remained so popular over the years. We’d also like to invite many more people to come along on and get involved with The Conservation Volunteers.”

The centre is also urging people in the area to consider training as volunteers for the charity, looking into their school holiday programme for children or signing up to its zombie adventure nights from October 29.

Skelton Grange is also appealing for votes in the M&S Energy Fund Competition. It is bidding for a £12,500 grant for a renewable energy project that will improve its heating.

Mr Walker added: “You can help ensure that this wonderful centre and wildlife haven continues to thrive for the people of Leeds and Yorkshire.”

For further information on the Skelton Grange Environment Centre visit tcv.org.uk/skeltongrange or to support the centre’s renewable energy project bid visit mandsenergyfund.com/project/26844.